A leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, Yusuf Abdulateef, who recently defected to the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has disclosed that the prevailing hardship under the ruling party informed his decision to make the move.

Abdulateef, who was appointed the Chairman (Mobilisation) of PDP in Ondo South Senatorial District of the state after his defection, stated that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had attempted to dissuade him from leaving the APC, the persistent pleas of his followers ultimately led him to make the move.

According to him, farmers in Odigbo communities were unhappy with the APC-led administration due to how their farmlands were grabbed and sold at will by the government.

Abdulateef, who anchored the campaign drive of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim for Senate in Ondo South Senatorial District, which the APC won, defected a few days ago along with thousands of his supporters.

While speaking with newsmen at the weekend, he said, “I want to thank His Excellency, Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for calling me and which I honoured.

“On meeting with the governor, he asked me if it’s true that I left APC, and I answered in the affirmative. I told him that I took the decision due to what is happening in the land, particularly the hardship. People are hungry and lamenting that the APC government brought nothing but pain to them.

“Farmers in Ore, Odigbo Local Government, are crying that their land has been destroyed and taken away from them. My followers, which are many, have been telling me that they can no longer bear the agony of the APC, and they appealed to me to move.

“I asked them where we should go; they told me that we should move to the PDP, and that made us defect to the PDP last Saturday with over 12,000 of my followers.

“Even those in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo, Irele, Ilaje, and Okitipupa have been calling me that they are also ready to defect.

“I want to appreciate Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa for calling me, but I want to let him know that I’m now in the PDP.

“Although we have many political parties, our incoming governor, Agboola Ajayi, is a truthful and humble man. When he was the deputy governor, he performed excellently well with party leaders and traditional rulers; Muslims and Christians are comfortable.”